AN: Bit of light happy moments in this one (surprise, surprise), although some hurt/comfort at the beginning and dark hints in between. Also, I still need to finish the next chapter, so weekly updates will vary from now on, due to the lack of premeditated writing material. I am thinking about adding River into the next chapter; what do y'all think? You can either submit your response in a review or PM me, although I don't know how effective that would be, since it is Jade, not me, that gets the emails. So review is preferable. If you think she should be in it, tell me also whether it should be her early in her timeline or later... Determines a LOT. So, all that having been said, here's the story. Enjoy!
Amy jolted awake, panicking a little. She hadn't had a nightmare; so what was waking her at this hour?
Then she realized there was a sort of…. discontentment emanating from the TARDIS.
The only time she had awoken with the same feeling within the last month had been…
"Oh gosh," Amy gasped, as realization hit her.
As quickly as she could without waking Rory, she hurried down the ladder of the bunk bed (really Doctor), scarcely considering her disheveled appearance in her concern for the Doctor. If something had happened…
"Okay," Amy whispered once outside her room. Rory had stirred in his sleep, but not awoken; this would be easier to resolve on her own anyway. After all, it was HER, not Rory, the TARDIS had chosen, both times, to share her concern.
Calming herself a little, and taking a moment to straighten her nighty before heading to find the Doctor, she requested, "Okay, Old Girl. Show me where."
Amy's expectation was for the TARDIS to direct her to the Console Room; that was always where the Doctor was, and Amy had a feeling that even if the Doctor had the strength left to get to the med bay, he would never admit weakness enough to go there; but instead the TARDIS led her into the library.
The scent of old books mixed with chlorine met her nose as she entered the ancient library.
She relished in the scent, memories of her seven-year-old-self coming back. The swimming pool in the library. Apparently not much had changed.
She rounded the corner in trepidation, but was surprised to be met with a completely calm, composed Doctor, sitting cross-legged in one of the many nooks in the room, reading a book.
"Doctor?" she questioned nervously, uncertain what to do now that there was no problem that immediately manifested itself.
The Doctor started, looking up from his book.
He gave a soft smile.
"Amy! Why aren't you in bed?" he asked gently.
She shrugged and went to join him in his corner.
"Couldn't sleep," she said simply. "What are you doing up?"
The Doctor smiled, a little too cheerfully for Amy's liking.
"Oh, you know. What I do."
A comfortable silence ensued, both enjoying the silent companionship.
Finally, Amy broke the silence.
"Doctor?" she questioned. When no answer was forthcoming, she asked anyway, "Do you ever sleep?"
He looked up, contemplating her seriously.
"You're worrying about me," he concluded, evading the question entirely.
Amy sighed, rolling her eyes slightly as he returned to his book, but she didn't push it.
Soon however, she noticed his hands were shaking slightly; his shoulders were slumped, his gaze unfocused.
"What happened that night?" he whispered, "That made you so afraid."
Amy sighed. So THAT'S what was keeping him up.
"Doctor," she pleaded. "Look at me."
He slowly raised his head, and only now did she notice his slightly red-rimmed eyes from hastily wiped away tears and the tears stains that had dried before she was there. Now was not the time to dwell on that, though.
"You don't need to know what you did. Because we don't care. All we care is that you're here. You're safe. Nothing more needs said."
With that she walked out of the room, leaving the Doctor stunned, but with a slight smile on his face.
When she got back to her room, Rory slurred, "Amy? What's wrong?"
"Shhhh," Amy silenced him with a kiss. "Go to bed. You shouldn't be up anyway."
"Mmmm," Rory groaned contentedly as she slid onto the bottom bunk next to him.
Tomorrow was a new day.
When Amy woke once more, it was still dark in her room. She checked her watch and groaned. It was only five o'clock in the morning. Well, at least on Earth. In the TARDIS, time was not an object- more of an abstract idea than an actual reality.
A crash from the console room, accompanied by a shout of "Ouch!" from the Doctor, jolted her awake completely.
"Doctor!" she shouted. "Mind toning it down a little, Scottish girl trying to sleep here!"
"Sorry Amy!" The Doctor yelled back.
Rory mumbled sarcastically by her side, "Yeah, now that we're all up, we might as well do something useful instead of lamenting our loss of sleep."
"Oi, Stupid Face," Amy scolded. "Don't be so down about it. Imagine all the things we'll do with today."
With that she hopped out of bed, leaving her husband to bemoan the loss of warmth as his wife left his side.
Amy was actually the first in the console room today. She found the Doctor on the lower level of the TARDIS, sitting in his swing muttering to himself.
She immediately noticed the source of the crash.
A large beam had fallen from the mass of electrical wires hidden underneath the glass floor.
"Um, sorry?" the Time Lord grinned sheepishly, nervously wringing his hands.
Amy rolled her eyes. "Say sorry to the Last Centurion. I was already up, but the wrath of Rory the Roman may be something you don't want to face."
The Doctor winced slightly at the mention of the Pandorica, but it went unnoticed as Rory himself came under, dressed but with the last remnants of sleep in his eyes.
"Anybody in here sane enough to actually make breakfast?" Rory asked.
"Right, yes, breakfast." The Doctor began, clapping his hands together. "I make fabulous omelets. Ever know that, Rory?" As the Roman shook his head in the negative, the Doctor continued rambling. "No, you probably wouldn't know that, silly me, always forgetting things."
"Doctor," Amy interceded for Rory, "Breakfast? Without the backstory, please?"
"Yes, breakfast, breakfast," the Doctor mumbled, heading off to the kitchen, leaving Rory staring rather confusedly at his retreating form.
"Is he-" Rory began, but was cut off by Amy.
"Shh," she silenced. "Not now."
And with that she followed the Doctor, her skirt swishing gently back and forth with the motion of her body, leaving Rory speechless.
"So, Doctor," Amy quipped in her Scottish accent. "Where to today?"
When the Doctor opened his mouth to speak, she silenced him with a finger to his lips.
"And no potentially dangerous, futuristic technology hubs either," She requested.
When the Doctor huffed disappointedly, she sighed a little, stilling his hands from their constant movement to force him to look at her.
"You know what I mean Doctor," she said seriously. "We don't want to hurt you again."
Her tone returned to its normal light, teasing tone as Rory walked in.
"What do you think about an exotic beach, Rory?" she asked.
"Fine by me," Rory replied, "As long as there aren't aliens involved." After a pause he added, "And as long as I get breakfast beforehand."
The Doctor laughed, clapping his hands together like a little child.
"Omelets it is then."
After breakfast, they all ran- or in Amy and Rory's case, tried to catch up to the Doctor- to the Console Room.
The Doctor ran around, pressing buttons and whirling dials.
"Where to now?" Amy questioned excitedly.
"See for yourself," The Doctor smiled, opening the door with a flourish.
Amy stepped out onto white sand.
The beach stretched for miles and miles, waters of crystal clear blue stretching as far as the eye could see.
"Aureī Insulae," The Doctor announced, "Planet of the Islands. The name literally translates 'The Golden Islands.' When your species finally gets out here, they saw it and that's all they could see. Strips of gold interspersed with clear waters." His face darkened for a moment, and he muttered under his breath, "Now that was a day and a half," before he cheered up again and saying, "But this is only 1987, by your time; and its people, humanoids, are only just beginning themselves. So, ideally, no danger of mass murdering alien attacks or angry wars or paradoxes or genocide," the last word was half muttered under his breath.
By this point both Amy and Rory were staring at him with looks on their face like really Doctor enough with that just have fun.
"Okay, okay," he said, throwing up his hands in resignation. "That's the future," He smiled. "Let's have a little fun in the now."
He locked the TARDIS door with a snap of his fingers and they ran off down the beach.
The Doctor looked up into the sky, breathing in the rich atmosphere, hoping beyond hope that just this once, he could have the thrill without the cost.